Kip Tokuda, a University of Washington alumnus and former member of the UW President’s Minority Community Advisory Committee, passed away on July 13. He was 66.
A Seattle native, Tokuda was a long-time advocate for children, diversity and civil rights. He was the executive director of the Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect for eight years. From 1994-2002, he served in the Washington State House of Representatives, representing the 37th legislative district in Central/Southeast Seattle. He was chairman of the House Children and Family Services Committee and sat on the Appropriations and Juvenile Justice and Family Law committees.
Tokuda had recently retired as the director of the City of Seattle Human Service Department’s Family and Youth Services Division. In March, Seattle mayor Mike McGinn had appointed him to the Seattle Community Police Commission.
Also known for his service to the community, Tokuda was a founder of both the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington and the Asian Pacific Islander Community Leader Foundation.
He graduated from the UW in 1969 with a B.A. in sociology, and later received a master’s degree in social work in 1973.
A public viewing will be held on Thurs., July 18, at Bonney Watson on Capital Hill in Seattle at 1732 Broadway in Seattle, from 2- 7 p.m. A public memorial service will be held on Sun., July 21, at the University of Washington campus in Kane Hall (Room 130) at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kip Tokuda Legacy Fund which is being established to support the causes to which he dedicated his life. Tokuda’s family has set up a Facebook page “Remembering Kip Tokuda” for messages and photos.
Tokuda’s legacy is featured in this Seattle Times article.